Fresno to Clovis and Friant

The Clovis Branch

Showing of

Looking north in Clovis. The ROW has been reclaimed for use as a biking trail. Photo by Mike Palmer, March 2005.

This branch served the farms and local businesses east and north of Fresno. Much of the right-of-way runs parallel to major streets east of Fresno, though the remnants are likely to be paved over as development spreads and streets are widened. There have been local transportation studies exploring re-using some of the right-of-way for light rail.

Historic ICC Abandonment Filings

SOUTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD

Docket Number: 21425

Date: 1/3/1961

Section: 1(18)

App. for auth. to aband. that portion of the Clovis Branch and operation thereof of San Joaquin Div'n., owned and operated by Sn. Pac. Co., at or near Rockfield and the end of such branch line at or near Friant, a distance of approx. 4.356 mi., together with all sidings, spur tracks and appurtenances, all in Fresno County, Calif.

Length: 4.356 miles

Citation:

SOUTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD

Docket Number: 26512

Date: 1/28/1971

Section: 1(18)

Application for authority to abandon its Clovis Branch Line between MP 206.99 and MP 212.50, a distance of approx, 5.51 miles, together with all spur track, sidings and appurtenances, all within the County of Fresno, Calif.

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The original reason for this line to be built was one of intrique and deception in which the Southern Pacific likey played a large role.

It was originally named the San Joaquin Valley Railroad, and was financed by folks in Fresno who has fallen under the guile of one Marcus Pollasky, and they were eager to break the SP monopoly. Once their money was spent on this 'line to nowhere', Mr. Pollasky left town, and the line went bankrupt.

This line later played a very large role in the development of hydroelectric power in the Big Creek canyon. Interested folk should find a copy of the book "The Railroad that Lighted Southern California" by Hank Johnston for a fascinating look at both this now abandoned line, and the Crookedest Railroad Ever Built that - for a brief and outstanding time - connected with it.

Bill Steck
Bakersfield, CA
1/30/2010

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Also of note was that no less than three other rail lines used the Friant branch as their starting point. The San Joaquin & Eastern operated from 1912-1933 and was the Rail line that was used to construct the Hydro facilities in the mountains to the east. Then north of the town of Friant (originally named Pollasky) The Minarets & Western (abandoned in 1934) left the friant branch on its way to logging camps near Bass Lake. Oh, and the Fresno Copper mine also had a small spur line off the main. But I can't find any info on it just its general location near present Copper AVE.